Once upon a time there was a Big Bang, which has since yielded many events. Now billions of years later in 2022 we welcome a new happening. This happening is the debut album release of Genetrick, the psychedelic trance artist that has been releasing bangers for more than a decade.
After having the all-important psychedelic party experience, Micky went on his own journey with psychedelic culture, music and then production. After a couple of releases the then-new artist got the ultimate stamp of approval from Ace Ventura- little did he know that with time he would be releasing music on the same label.
Like many Producers, Genetrick used the chaotic and uncertain times during Covid lockdown to put what was in mind and spirit into music, which has led to eight original solo tracks that take the listener on a journey through various moods and movements.
After two years of tweaking and fine-tuning the album, Genetrick presents Starseed, out now via Iboga Records.
Hi, Micky, known musically as Genetrick. Congratulations on your debut album, Starseed! Before we get into that I want to dive into the past quickly.
The first big boost you had in your career was being one of the winners of the BPMremixed ‘Ace Ventura- Presence’ remix contest in 2013- nearly 10 years ago. For an artist, getting validation from a Producer of such caliber must mean you’re doing something right. Looking back at that moment of winning that contest, did you think your career would end up being where it is today- with an album released on Iboga Records, arguably the biggest psychedelic label on the planet?
Genetrick: Yes, almost 10 years ago I got selected as a winner in that remix contest and it absolutely boosted the start of my career. I didn’t plan on having a musical career at that stage, and I surely wasn’t thinking of releasing an album on Iboga Records- which for me was (and still is) the best label there was, with the top artists that drove me into producing music in the first place.
Being one of the winners in that remix contest gave me motivation for evolving my career and inspired me to release more music. It was definitely a most significant milestone in the start of my career.
I love diversity in music, and I think that most successful artists aim to have a lot of variety in their productions.”
I must say, I got pretty emotional listening to your RadiOzora interview from 2020 where you talk about your first outdoor party experience and how it transformed your life. You said it was small, maybe 40 people, yet the vibe- music, people, nature- got you hooked on the music and set you on the path of production. Whether as artists like yourself, partygoers like me or even organizers who throw festivals, we can all remember that transformative moment when truly experiencing psychedelic culture.
What, in your opinion, is it about the scene- music, people, atmosphere that is so magnetic?
Genetrick: I think the fact that people in this scene are open-minded, super friendly and love to dance affects the dance floor in a way that creates a sense of unity.
The psychedelic music scene makes us feel like we are in a familiar place, where we can be free with ourselves and with others, and it creates a unique level of connection between the love for music and people.
Your project name, Genetrick, is very Scientific. Your album name, Starseed and the track names as well as the music itself is also very Scientific/Spacey. When did your fascination with that theme start?
Genetrick: I have loved science since I was a kid, doing experiments in school, trying to understand the machinations of our environment, and at the same time I was always fascinated by the question of whether we are alone in the universe.
Some will say that space is the final frontier because there is so much to explore. And like psychedelics, you need a wider perspective to understand it.
I love science-fiction in general and space in particular, and I think because we don’t know much of what’s up there, the imagination kicks in. So, for me it was supernatural to evolve my art around it.
STARSEED was an idea of combining my love for space and spiritualism to create a fictional world based on events and experiences I have had throughout my life.
Obviously Covid lockdown was a negative happening, but it seems like we’re getting albums from many artists. What was your experience producing Starseed over the past two years of uncertainty and craziness? What kept you inspired?
Genetrick: Covid lockdown gave a lot of people time to think and obviously a lot of free time to produce music. At first, I wanted to create the storyline, so I created a script for the Album, and it was a way to escape the harsh reality of the lockdowns.
Looking back at it, Producing the album was intense but it truly kept me focused and away from all the chaos and uncertainty. All these emotions and anxieties which I’m sure many people had during that time, drove me to let it all out in the studio and in some way, I feel lucky that I had that opportunity to go through that process in such a time.
The main goal of the album was to create a new world which takes the listeners through different acts.”
Where many albums have one tone/feeling, Starseed has a plethora of feelings, moods, vibes, and frequency. It’s cohesive yet varies from track to track more than a lot of albums we see today. Was that your intention or did it just happen this way?
Genetrick: I love diversity in music, and I think that most successful artists aim to have a lot of variety in their productions.
The main goal of the album was to create a new world which takes the listeners through different acts.
The way for me to keep it interesting is to make every track in a different mood just to emphasize that diversity. Eventually when you hear it from start to end you feel the progression and change of moods.
But also, the hidden subtext inside each act has ultimately affected and shaped the mood and atmosphere of the whole album. Each act had a feeling I wanted to convey to the listeners, so they would be able to embark on the journey my album tries to send them on.
Starseed presents 8 original solo tracks. No collaborations, yet I hear influences from artists you’ve worked with before. What is the importance of working with others, picking up tricks of the trade and adding value to your own sound?
Genetrick: Well, every producer has their own set of skills and knowledge, and it’s amazing to see the difference between their way of work, especially the ones who are self-taught. Some are better with arrangements, and some are great at synthesis etc.
When I work with other artists, I’m always open minded and want to learn how they work. Sharing techniques and tricks is super important for growing the chemistry between co-producers and if it’s mutual, both sides win.
The more you know and practice, the better the production.
In anticipation for the release of Starseed, you put out two singles to hype up the album. What made you choose ‘Malfunction’ and ‘Mysteries of the Universe’ to be the first presentation of your Album?
Genetrick: These singles were picked as a “preview” of the album because these two are specifically important acts because they help convey main themes that are recurring throughout the whole album. And along with their specific artwork I wanted the listeners to be able to dive into the concept behind the story.
‘Malfunction’ is the start of the journey. The main character stumbles upon a vortex after escaping from his home planet and is launched into a different universe. It was important for me to start with the beginning as a preview to the whole story, same as they do on trailers for movies.
‘Mysteries of the Universe’ is the first change the main character goes through.
From experiencing events that occur on his way like the vortex and meeting different characters, to the beginning of his search for meaning, in the vast mysterious universe he was drawn into.
Musically it also has a shift in moods, while the first one is pretty experimental and has a progressive vibe, the second is more of a dancefloor psy banger.
What has it been like test driving your album to party goers in the months leading up to its release? Has crowd response affected the final mixing of any of your tracks?
Genetrick: Well, honestly, my constant pursuit for perfection almost always keeps me from playing music that I’m not 100% sure that it’s the best track that I can make.
This leads to a long process of fine tuning and nit picking over every beat and sound. So, after working 2+ years on this album, I really wasn’t prepared to play a single beat until everything was perfect in my eyes.
And at this stage, the crowd’s feedback is priceless.
After a couple of parties where I tried out a few of the tracks, feeling the crowd’s response, I got a sense of how all the different parts work on the dancefloor- whether some parts should be longer or shorter, and if the kick is punchy enough or not.
But after 2 years of fine tuning and tweaking, the crowd’s response was amazing- really the best response that I could hope for. And after experiencing those reactions, all that was left to do was the subtle nuances here and there until I was finally satisfied enough to let it go.
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